TRAPRISE - Music survives turbulent Derby session for Guilfoyle

The sole unbeaten runner entering quarter finals in the 2023 Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby, a missed break in advance of repeated crowding saw the fervent title designs of Scaglietti dashed at Shelbourne Park on Saturday but in search of a second victory in the classic, trainer Pat Guilfoyle will contest next weekend’s semi-finals with burgeoning talent Music Glideaway (Newinn Taylor-Glideaway Magic).

A first round heat winner in the Derby, the June 2021 youngster is owned by the Limerick based Pension Plan Syndicate which is headed by Bob Shanahan and connections of breeders, the O’Donoghue family of Glideaway renown, who enjoyed past major event success with the Moneygall kennels having teamed up with the 2019 Gold Cup winner Music Toour Ears.

Settling for runner-up position in each of his latest Derby heats, Music Glideaway was well housed in trap 6 for the concluding quarterfinal on Saturday and breaking smartly, disputed the lead on the outside of early pacer Well Met throughout the initial exchanges. Ceding advantage to that rival while turning on the outside, a length separated the pair along the backstraight before Music Glideaway all but joined the leader approaching the home straight. Enjoying clear passage on the inside of the leading duo, strong stayer Clonroosk Sydney swooped late and fast for victory in 29.55 when a head in advance of Well Met while Music Glideaway lost little when just a neck further back in third while widest into the straight.

Having claimed victory in the opening heat which saw the elimination of Scaglietti, Liam Dowling’s De Lahdedah has jumped to outright favouritism at 2/1 ahead of semi-finals this week with previous favourite Coolavanny Hoffa now 7/2 having suffered his second heat defeat behind fastest Saturday winner The Other Kobe for last year’s winning trainer Jennifer O’Donnell.

Following his draw in trap 6 for the opening semi, Music Glideaway remains a big outsider at 33/1 but there is ample reason to be optimistic in a heat which sets up well for the sole wide seed. With Well Met and Trinity Junior set to contest the early lead to his inside, there appears an obvious path to clear passage for the Guilfoyle youngster and with likely crowding to his left, he holds strong claims for qualification.

HARRY SETS WINNING TRAP IN THURLES FINAL

The final of the Trap 1 Greyhound Supplies A4 525 Yard Stake was feature of the action at Thurles Greyhound Stadium on Saturday and completing a game event campaign with victory in the €1200 showdown was James Treacy’s Montore Harry (Farloe Blitz-Montore Sally).

Grateful for a fourth qualifying spot in the opening round before chasing home Anytime Boss in third place at semi stage, the May 2021 whelp would reverse form with that latter rival on Saturday when smartly to stride from trap 6 before tackling the opening bend with a narrow lead. Producing an improved performance once on the bunny for the first time in the competition, Montore Harry completed with three lengths to spare while advancing to his new career best of 29.52 (-20). Just avoiding a rise for this fifth win from thirteen race starts, the Treacy charge can plunder yet more prizes in the grade on this latest evidence.

The early part of last week was a busy spell for local kennels and on a successful Monday at Limerick for their monthly extra meeting, the fastest performance of the night was delivered by James Treacy’s Montore Brian (Ardnasool Jet-Montore Sally) in the Track Bookmakers A4 525 while sparking a wonderful week for the kennels.

Last successful in the same grade, the May 2020 whelp tracked the early pace of local rival Diegos Shay throughout the early exchanges following a moderate start from trap 3 and though rounding that rival at the opening bends, had near two lengths to recover on an advancing early paced rival nearing halfway following some crowding amongst our local duo. Readily overhauling the leader with superior pace along the backstraight however, Montore Brian completed his fifth career win with four lengths to spare over a rallying Diegos Shay in 29.23.

For the John Byrne trained runner-up, he has now filled second position in each outing since returning from a layoff and looks primed for a more telling effort before very long while a former A1 runner, the Treacy winner will not fear a small rise to A3 next time given that this victory came following a near five-month absence from racing!

Perfect Ten at Dundalk

Having commenced his career with six victories in seven starts, the highly promising racing campaign of Tom Bourke’s Ballygraigue Ten (Grangeview Ten-Grangeview Vicie) was forced into a short sabbatical when enduring a fall in a luckless outing back in July. However, progressing for his latest comeback effort following a near three-month layoff, the Vincent McKenna trained speedster roared back to winning ways at Dundalk on Tuesday last when advancing to the elite sprint ranks.

With an admirable third at S1 level on return last time, the July 2021 youngster was again facing a tough assignment when contesting above his grading this time but making light of the task, began on level terms before drawing clear of remaining rivals when contesting for the lead with a fellow early paced contender on the run to the corner.

Fully asserting while tackling the turns, Ballygraigue Ten skipped readily clear to the home stretch and striking the line in strong running fashion, posted a slick 21.21 in a commanding five length verdict. That winning time will see the Borrisokane charge rise to SS0 for his next outing but entitled to progress in this racing return, may well cope with aplomb!